WorkSource Columbia Basin is here to help with your employment and training related needs. Are you looking for work or want to change careers and are not sure where to start? Contact us to learn more about how we can help!
 
Services available include:

• Job Search
• Resume Assistance
• Career Assessments
• Career Planning & Training
• One on One Case Management
• Access to Technology
• Referral to Community Resources
  
  

The health and safety of our community and team are of highest priority. We are observing COVID-19 safety protocols, including masking of all customers and staff, 6 feet of social distancing, and health screening prior to entry.
 
In-person services will be available by appointment only until further notice. We will also continue to offer services by phone and virtually.
 
To access these resources, please contact us! Call 509.734.5900 Option 7

Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our vendors, customers, and volunteers the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership has made the hard choice to cancel the Farmers Market on Thursday, July 1, 2021.

The market’s current weather policy as it applies to heat, is that 110 F is the automatic cancellation threshold for the Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market. “We see that the forecast for this Thursday, July 1st is 108 F, said Stephanie Button, HDKP Executive Director. “However, reviewing the attendance and gross sales from June 24th, when the weather was 99 F, cusping 100 F... attendance was down about 200 from the week before and the sales across the board were down by at least 50% from the previous markets.”

Market organizers acknowledge that there is still a chance that the weather could fluctuate by a couple of degrees in either direction, but out of an abundance of caution for public safety they have made the preemptive choice to cancel this week's market. “We take seriously our commitment to provide a safe space for our vendors to sell their products and for customers to shop. There are measures we can take to help alleviate the heat (such as providing additional canopy cover, large fans, and iced bottled water); however, we cannot guarantee that shoppers will venture out after this prolonged stretch of dangerously hot heat,” said Button.

The Thursday evening Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market fills an important niche for customers who cannot visit weekday or weekend morning markets. “We realize that this means our market occurs during the hottest part of the day. Because we don’t want to encourage people to spend prolonged periods of time in this excessive heat, we have made
the hard choice to cancel the Farmers Market on only July 1, 2021,” said Button. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, July 8, 2021.

For more information about the Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market email market@historickennewick.org or call 509-582-7221. Up-to-date information about the farmers market can be found on Facebook @kennewickfarmersmarket.

​The Keewaydin Community Center, located at 500 S Auburn Street, will be open as a temporary cooling center for vulnerable populations or households that lose AC, Tuesday, June 29 – Friday, July 2 from 8am to 5pm and Saturday, July 3 from 11am to 4pm.  

Amenities offered:

• Wi-Fi
• Pool table
• Nintendo gaming systems 
• Seating and areas for people to bring their own card and board games. 
• Bottled water

The combination of the extreme weather conditions and record-breaking peak loads in the Tri-Cities has put a strain on the area’s electric grid.  Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) owns and operates a big portion of the Northwest’s power grid that transmits electricity to Benton PUD and other Tri-Cities utilities.  In the event there is a failure of a major piece of equipment, BPA may require Benton PUD and other utilities to shift or shed load (localized blackouts) on its distribution system to prevent an overload condition on BPA’s transmission system that could result in a large-scale outage.  

Benton PUD asks customers to help by turning up their thermostats and only using appliances and electronics when necessary. Using dishwashers, washing machine and other major appliances at non-peak times is also helpful. Peak times are considered hours between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  More energy savings tips can be found at bentonpud.org/EnergySavings.  

Providing reliable electricity to customers is a team effort between Benton PUD, BPA and our customers.  If shedding load is required by BPA, Benton PUD will focus on maintaining essential businesses and services.  BPA’s notification to utilities to shed load can occur quickly, so it is unlikely that customers will be notified before an outage is implemented.  

Benton PUD reminds customers to always be prepared for outages by having flashlights, batteries and other essential supplies on hand and to make sure they have fully charged their cell phone or mobile device.  Customers can also login to SmartHub to enroll in email or text notifications to receive notices when there is an outage at their home or business and when power has been restored.

Please follow our Facebook and Twitter pages @BentonPUD and our website bentonpud.org for more information. 

Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that Alyssa Neil, PA-C, has accepted a position with Lourdes Health Family Medicine.
​
Alyssa previously practiced at Lourdes Cardiology and will now see patients at Lourdes West Pasco, located at 7425 Wrigley Drive, Suite 100, in Pasco.

“We are very excited to have Alyssa join our Lourdes Family Medicine team,” said Melda Velasquez, Director of Clinic Operations. “Her experience will be valuable as she makes this transition, and she will be a great asset for patients seeking Primary Care.”

Alyssa earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College in Ohio in 2019 and her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Walla Walla University in 2016. She has completed several clinical rotations, including in general surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, OB/GYN, pediatrics, internal medicine, and family practice. She is board certified and has certifications in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support from the American Heart Association.

Alyssa is from Washington State and says she is excited to continue to practice in the Tri-Cities.

“I am excited to continue to grow my career at Lourdes and continue to serve the Tri-Cities community,” she said. “I have always had a passion to serve rural and underserved communities with my medical skills. It is an honor to work at Lourdes and join the Family Medicine team.”

The Lourdes West Pasco Family Medicine Clinic can be reached at 509.416.8888.

More than 19,500 reported fires are started by fireworks annually according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries.

“We’re braced for the emergency calls we receive on the Fourth of July,” said Fire Chief Paul Carlyle. “Our preference as emergency responders who see the injuries and fires caused is that people don’t let off fireworks. But if you choose to celebrate with them, please take some precautions to do so as safely as possible.” 

The best option is to leave the fireworks up to professionals. This year, the River of Fire, will be hosted by the Gesa Carousel of Dreams and the City of Kennewick. The fireworks show will be free to all, and put on at 10:00 p.m. on the Fourth of July in Columbia Park in Kennewick (at Highway 240 and Columbia River). 

For those that are lighting off consumer fireworks in areas where it is legal, please follow these tips to reduce fire risk and injury:  

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks and older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Find an area to light of fireworks that is away from people, buildings, and flammable material
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person, and don’t hold them in your hands
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Never ignite devices in a container
• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks, instead soak them thoroughly in water
• Keep a charged hose and a bucket of water nearby
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding

Additional safety tips can be found on Benton County Fire District 4’s website at www.bcfd4.org.   

Benton County Fire District 4 does not make rules or regulations about fireworks, nor does it do any enforcement.  County and City Councils are responsible for making and enforcing laws. The fire district is responsible for putting out fires and responding to calls for emergency medical service. Please call 9-1-1 to dispatch emergency responders if you see a fire or a person is injured. 

On June 21st, the Port of Pasco finalized the purchase of 55-acres of land from Cox Family Land, LLC for $4.4 million. The property will be called Pasco Industrial Center Hwy 395 or “PIC395” as a reference to its location on the east side of Highway 395 at the north end of Pasco. The new property will fill an immediate need for shovel ready industrial lands while the Port completes infrastructure extension to the Reimann Industrial Center, which is expected to take up to 2 years.

“We are very excited to add this new property to the Port’s land portfolio as a shovel-ready industrial park in our region. It will help us meet heavy demand for industries that are ready to go while we work on getting the Reimann Industrial Center prepared” stated Jim Klindworth, Port Commission President. The property is fully served with roads and utilities with East Foster Wells Road on the north, and Capitol Avenue on the east. Unlike the Reimann Industrial Center, it does not have rail access.

PIC395 is currently zoned industrial in the City’s urban growth area, and is expected to be annexed into the City next month. The land will remain in agricultural production until a purchaser is identified.

The Port will again look to collaborate with Franklin County, the City of Pasco and Franklin PUD on development of the new property. The Port expects the new center will see many clients similar to the Pasco Processing Center, but also expects new industry targets will be attracted to the site for its unique assets.

“The Cox property was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. With all the growth we are seeing in the industrial sector, the Port wanted to have property available to locate new business in Franklin County. PIC395 checks all the boxes with excellent road access to Highway 395 and other utilities already in place. We are grateful to Tippet Company and the Cox Family LLC for working with the Port to complete the purchase,” stated Randy Hayden, the Port’s Executive Director.

Funding came from the Port’s Economic Development Opportunity Fund. The purchase price includes water rights which can be used for agricultural and industrial purposes.

3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) was selected by the Greater Columbia Accountable Community of Health and the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance to distribute $414,795 to nonprofits in Benton and Franklin counties to address critical community issues. 3RCF has selected 9 projects to fund, tackling the issues of food insecurity, behavioral health, and housing. These are the largest grants 3RCF will award this year.

“The 3RCF Board jumped right in to making these grants,” says Abbey Cameron, Executive Director of 3RCF. “This funding comes at a critical time as the pressures of the pandemic begin to ease for some but not all. We heard loud and clear through this process that access to food, housing insecurity, and most of all access to mental health services are key issues that need to be addressed now and these organizations are making huge efforts to do so.”

Social Determinant of Health Grants:

• Communities in Schools - $75,000 to address housing by providing emergency funds to families at risk.
• Domestic Violence Service of Benton and Franklin counites - $91,918 to support temporary housing costs and other needs of clients receiving services.
• Pasco Union Firefighters - $20,000 to create an emergency fund for their Resource Navigator.
• Support Advocacy Resource Center - $88,777 to improve behavioral health access by funding a licensed practitioner.
• Chaplaincy Health Care - $44,100 to fund an additional group counselor to improve access to services at Cork’s Place.
• Second Harvest - $30,000 to fund continuation of the Mobile Market program.
• Lutheran Community Services - $25,000 to fund additional mental health training for staff and the community.
• Teen Challenge Tri-Cities – $25,000 to fund Operating Red Eye providing food to underserved areas.
• Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities - $15,000 to support a therapist to offer behavioral health services in partnership with community agencies.

 
Responses from some of the funded organizations:
“This funding will allow us to provide support for nearly 120 families, who without assistance, face the very real threat of becoming unhoused” says Joely Nye-Felt, Development Director of Communities in Schools. “CISBF will work in partnership with Safe Harbor to empower families as they strive towards greater self-sufficiency and brighter futures for their children.”
“In our Path to Success class, participants learn about horse body parts, waiting their turn, communicating, cooperating, and advancing their confidence that they are capable of learning something new,” says Cynthia McFarland of Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities. “A parent shared this with us…. My daughter has Autism Spectrum 11, ADHD, and Learning Disabilities. I try to keep her in programs that will help with her behavioral issues. She loves horses and TROT makes it fun for her while she is learning. She looks forward to her classes. Thank you!”
“The grant funds received from the 3 Rivers Community Foundation will make a lasting impact into the future by enabling Cork’s Place Grief Support Center to help meet the increased demand for grief care and support that has been compounded by the effects of COVID-19 in the community today.” Daniel Lipparelli, Director of Development with Chaplaincy Health Care.
“This grant will support training for our staff and community, helping them support clients, peers and struggling loved ones,” says Amy Marinoni-Redmond of Lutheran Community Services. “It will also help us continue breaking the stigmas of mental health, offering expanded education opportunities for many people in our region. We are grateful for the support!” 
“Being able to immediately address the clients needs not only provides physical security and safety but also gives hope and a mental boost for the patients, as they realize help is available and coming soon,” says Ben Shearer of Pasco Union Firefighters. “The immediate impact of this grant will allow the Pasco Resource Navigator time to identify and guide individuals towards additional resources and agencies that will assist in creating a better situation for each individual.”
 
“With the funding from 3RCF we are able to be more mobile and serve more food to those that need it most,” says Jesse Campos of Adult & Teen Challenge PNW.  “We are so excited to see the smiles on the faces of those we serve in the community.  Thank you 3RCF!”

To make a donation to 3RCF visit https://threeriverscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate. 

Baker Boyer is pleased to announce that it ranked 91 in American Banker magazine’s “Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks” for 2021. More than 600 qualified institutions were considered for the nationwide ranking. It is the 14th consecutive year Baker Boyer has received this distinction.

Baker Boyer has received recognition through numerous local, regional, and national awards, including:

• American Banker magazine, Top 200 Community Banks, 2008-2021
• Yakima Valley Business Times, Best of the Valley, Best Financial Advisor, 2015
• Seattle Business magazine, 100 Best Companies to Work For, 13-time honoree
• Seattle Business magazine, Best Family Business Award, 2012
• Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Best Bank, 2004-2020
• Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Best Mortgage Lender, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
• Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Best Financial Advisor, 2014, 2015

For more information about the Top 200 Award, along with analysis about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on this year’s bank performance, see this article in American Banker Magazine.

The Friends of Mid-Columbia Libraries (FOL) hosts its much-anticipated Summer Book Sale June 25 and 26 at Mid-Columbia Libraries’ Kennewick Branch, located at 1620 S. Union St. in Kennewick. All book sale proceeds benefit Mid-Columbia Libraries.

The sale takes place from 10 am to 6 pm on June 25 and from 10 am to 4 pm on June 26. This sale only includes the following collections: children's books, audiobooks, travel, gardening, and fiction paperbacks. Debit and credit card payments will be accepted.

The FOL looks forward to hosting its semi-annual Giant Book Sales in the future. The FOL is unable to accept any physical donations at this time.

Community members can also support the FOL by becoming a member or making a donation. Funds support library performers and programs, such as the Summer Reading Challenge, which is going on now through Aug. 13. Contact Fernie Coe at 509-322-6949 for volunteer opportunities. Learn more at midcolumbialibraries.org/FOL.